The warm homes fund will deliver renewable energy and energy-efficient homes in those areas worse affected by fuel poverty. The operational details, including the criteria and the application process, are being worked on and will be announced in due course.

Scottish ministers have expressed their concern over the recent price increases announced by Scottish power and its impact on fuel poverty. In meetings with Scottish Power up to £10 million has been secured for energy efficiency programmes in Scotland. This government’s fuel poverty programmes continue to deliver assistance to vulnerable households. The Energy Assistance Package has grant funded over 20,000 heating installations since April 2009 and improved the annual income of pensioners and families by over £4.2 million. The Home Insulation Scheme and universal Home Insulation Scheme have helped over 500,000 people since November 2009.

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance has also issued a letter to Ofgem voicing concern over this alarming trend in utility pricing, especially the impact on vulnerable customers.

The Scottish Government has clearly stated its commitment to the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence, which includes working towards two hours per week of physical education (PE) in primary schools and at least two periods of PE in secondary schools for pupils in S1 to S4. Ministers will continue discussions with stakeholders on how we can ensure the delivery of those important commitments by 2014.

As outlined in my statement to the Parliament on 29 June 2011, I will set out a wider package of reforms on post-16 education later in 2011. Any legislation on higher education would be brought forward next year as a result of this wider package of reform.

Scottish ministers are proud of the actions we have already taken to provide free school meals in Scotland, which last year extended eligibility to an additional 17,000 children and young people. In time we will look at ways of expanding current provision.

Plans for the Scottish Futures Fund are a matter for the Spending Review, which will report in autumn 2011.

The national roll out of Life Begins at 40 commenced in February 2011. The service will cost approximately £285,000 in the 2011-12 financial year.

The Scottish Government has provided an additional £2.5 million for a new Export Support Package for 2011-12. The new Export Support Package funding is complementary to the support already provided through Scottish Development International.

Funding to the Export Support Package for 2012 will be subject to future spending allocation decisions.

The Scotland Exchange has been in beta testing mode since 2010. On 24 March 2011 members of the Global Friends of Scotland were invited to join the new Scotland Exchange network. The network is still being developed and new members are welcome.

Scotland Exchange sits on the Ning platform, at an annual cost of $500 (£321 at current exchange rates). Additional start up costs for branding and developing the site were £10,000.

Future funding will be set on an as needed basis.

There are currently no plans to provide funding to the Maldives from the Scottish Government’s International Development Fund.